Closure for doors, bonnets, tailgates or the like, in particular of vehicles, such as motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a closure with a closure cylinder whose cylinder core (33) can be moved by a key into different operating positions. The object of the invention is for at least one microswitch (50) to be actuated by switching cams (42) only once, even if the switching cam (42) continues to be moved when the microswitch (50) has been actuated. During the return movement, this microswitch (50) should not be triggered by the switching cam (42) again, and so faulty switching is avoided. To that end, a control member (40) cooperates via a separable coupling (35, 45) with a control member (40) on which the switching cam (42) is located. The control member (40) is acted upon by a restoring spring (46) which endeavors to move the control member into an initial position and simultaneously subject it to a force (43) in the coupling sense by the cylinder core (33). By controlling the lift as it moves, the control member (40) is moved axially out of a coupling plane (69) into an uncoupling plane (67) in which it can return to its normal position (40) again under the effect of the restoring spring (46). This restoring movement in the uncoupling plane (67) occurs at a distance from the microswitch (50), such that the switching cam (42) does not actuate the microswitch (50) again.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to a lock which is used in particular as a rearlock in the trunk lid of a motor vehicle. In this lock, the cylindercore of the lock cylinder can be rotated by a properly fitting key outof a neutral position, which is determined by a pulse spring, into anyone of three different working positions. After rotation in a pulse-wisemanner into a first working position, called the "unsecured" position,the lock can be opened by the operation of a handle. In this position,an active connection between the lock and the handle is established.This does not apply to the second and third working positions, calledthe "secured" and the "safe-secured" or simply "safe" positions,respectively. In these cases, the handle is inoperative, for whichreason the lock does not move when the handle is actuated. In theneutral position, a key can be inserted into the cylinder core andremoved again; its pulse spring automatically returns the cylinder coreto this neutral position from the unsecured or secured position. A keycan also be inserted and removed in the safe position, in which thecylinder core remains after it has been rotated by the key.

The rotation of the cylinder core of the lock into the various workingpositions is reported to a central locking device, referred to inabbreviated form below as the "CL" device. The CL device acts on otherlocks on the motor vehicle, which are controlled in a correspondingmanner. The locking mechanisms provided for these additional locks arerendered operative or inoperative by the CL device in the same way. Butwhen the lock is in its safe position, the CL device cannot bring itback again into the unsecured position (in which the handle can be usedto open the associated lock) when a key is used to actuate the cylindercore of any of the other locks.

When a key is used to rotate the cylinder core, a switch actuator ismoved as well; as this actuator moves from the neutral position to thesecured position or from the neutral position to the unsecured position,it actuates a microswitch. In each case, this microswitch initiatesspecific additional functions in the motor vehicle; for example, it caninitiate the previously mentioned control function of the CL device orturn an electrical anti-theft warning system on or off. When thecylinder core is rotated beyond the secured position and into the safeposition, the switch actuator moves to the other side of themicroswitch, where, in the case of the known lock, it is held.Therefore, as already mentioned, the locking mechanism belonging to thislock remains blocked in the safe position, because the handle isinoperative. When, in the known lock, a key is used to rotate thecylinder core out of the safe position and back into the neutralposition, so that the key can be removed again in the neutral position,the cylinder core passes through the secured position again on itsreturn route, and the switch actuator actuates the microswitch again. Asa result, the functions associated with the secured position areinitiated yet again, such as, for example, the turning-on of theanti-theft warning system, the blocking of the locking mechanism, andthe blocking of the CL device. In the case of the known lock, this canlead not only to inconvenient situations but also to dangerous ones.

A dangerous situation can result in the case of a vehicle with an arrayof locks on the doors and on the tailgate, which can be controlled froma central location by the CL device. Whereas the locks on the doors havethree working positions (neutral position, secured position, anunsecured position), the lock for the tailgate can also be moved intothe previously mentioned safe position; in the case being assumed here,this is the position in which it is supposed to remain. When a key isthen used in one of the locks to change the locks on the doors into theunsecured position by way of the CL device, the lock on the tailgateremains in the safe position. When, finally, a key is used to turn thelock on the tailgate back into the neutral position (not to theunsecured position) and the key is pulled out, the switch actuatorlocated at the tailgate passes over the microswitch, when initiates thecited functions for the secured position again. This means that the CLdevice is induced to return the locks of all the doors to the "secured"position. Now all the doors of the vehicle are closed, and anypassengers who may be in the vehicle are trapped.

Another conceivable case, which is relatively harmless but stillinconvenient, is present when the tailgate lock is moved back from thesafe position to the neutral position while one of the doors is open. Inthis case, the anti-theft warning system is turned on and an alarm istriggered when the switch actuator moves across the microswitch. Thisleads to unnecessary noise.

The invention is based on the task of developing a reliable, compactlock which requires the fewest possible number of components and yetallows the cylinder core to be rotated between the neutral position andthe three working positions cited above without the occurrence of anycontrol problems involving the switch actuator carried along by thecylinder core.

Because, when the cylinder core is in the safe position, the controlelement is in a disconnection plane and thus automatically disengagedfrom the cylinder core, there is no need for any additional lockingelements which would be required to disconnect the pulse spring from thecylinder core in the safe position. The pulse spring can always remainconnected to the control element. It is also impossible for anycontradictory control commands to be sent to the CL device; the reasonfor this is that, because the control element is situated in thedisconnection plane, the switch actuator provided on the control elementis a certain distance away from the microswitch and, when the actuatorexecutes its return movement starting from the safe position, it passesby the microswitch without affecting it in any way. Although the controlelement with its switch actuator is automatically returned by the pulsespring to the normal position, which corresponds to the neutral positionof the cylinder core, it nevertheless leaves the microswitch unactuated.When the cylinder core is returned by a properly fitting key from thesafe position via the secured position to the neutral position, it nolonger needs to return the control element, carrying the switchactuator, since the control element is already in its normal position,aligned with the core. In the neutral position of the cylinder core, aconnection is established automatically again between the core and thecontrol element, because the force of the spring acting on the controlelement moves it back into its connection plane. As the rotationcontinues and the cylinder core arrives in the unsecured position, thecontrol element is able to move in the connection plane again and canuse its switch actuator to actuate another microswitch, which thenlogically reverses the settings of the vehicle's electrical device thus,for example, deactivating the anti-theft warning system again and/orcontrolling the CL device.

An especially simple design of the lock according to the invention isobtained when the axial movement of the control element between thevarious planes is used to actuate one or more microswitches, which thencan take over other functions in the motor vehicle. Thus, it isrecommended that a third microswitch be inserted into the circuit of thetwo previously mentioned microswitches and that this third switch beactuated directly by the control element. The third microswitch caninterrupt the entire electrical circuit when the control element movesout the connection plane into the disconnection plane or some otherplane. This results in a very high level of security against forcedentry in a vehicle equipped with this lock. It also means that a key inthe cylinder core can turn the lock to the "safe" position or to a"garage" position.

Additional measures and advantages of the invention can be derived fromthe subclaims, from the following description, and from the drawings.The drawings present two different exemplary embodiments of theinvention and also a simplified schematic diagram to help explain thespecial way in which the invention works:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross section through the lock according tothe invention along line I--I of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the lock shown in FIG. 1, looking in thedirection of arrow II;

FIG. 3 shows in schematic fashion a front view of the cylinder core of alocking cylinder used in the lock, illustrating the neutral position andthe various working positions of interest here;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are exploded views of the various components of thelock shown in FIG. 1 before they are assembled;

FIG. 7 is an electric circuit diagram of the lock according to theinvention, which shows the electrical connections to the associatedlocking mechanism;

FIGS. 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b show thevarious working positions of the lock according to the invention inschematic, flat, developed views of various components which arecircular in and of themselves; a second, alternative design is shown inFIGS. 8c, 9c, and 10c;

FIGS. 14a and 14b show radial cross sections, along line XIVb--XIVb, ofdetails of the device shown in FIG. 13b, in two different workingpositions;

FIG. 15 shows, on an enlarged scale, a cross section through a handle ofa special design belonging to the lock in its installed position in thetailgate of a vehicle, the cross section being made along line XV--XV inFIG. 17;

FIG. 16 shows a rear view of the handle of FIG. 15 with the associatedswitch;

FIG. 17 shows a rear view, partially cut away, of the handle of FIG. 15;and

FIG. 18 shows, on a greatly enlarged scale, an additional detail of thehandle shown in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As can be seen from FIGS. 1-6, a locking cylinder is located in acylindrical part 32 of the lock housing, called "cylinder housing"below. Cylinder housing 32 also defines a cylinder axis 30; this is theaxis to which the word "axial" used in the following description refers.The numerous components which can be seen in FIG. 5 are arranged in oron cylinder housing 32; these components include in all cases a cylindercore 33, which can be turned by a properly fitting key 34, and a controlelement 40. Cylinder core 33 has conventional spring-loaded tumblers 36,only the ends of which can be seen in FIG. 11b; because the tumblers arespring-loaded, their ends project into locking channels 37, which canalso be seen in FIG. 11b, when no key is inserted. In the simplest case,locking channels 37 are integrated directly into cylinder housing 32,but, for the reasons to be given further below, a channel sleeve 38 isused in the present case, as FIGS. 5 and 11b show, which is supported sothat it cannot move in the axial direction but is still free to rotate.In addition to channel sleeve 38, a slide ring 39 is also provided,which is supported in cylinder housing 32 so that it cannot rotate butis free to move in the axial direction.

Components 38, 39, 40 are pushed onto radially set-off sections ofcylinder core 33, after which a pulse-compression spring 46, designed asa torsion spring, is installed. Pulse-compression spring 46 acts at thesame time as a compression spring, for which purpose it has a helicalsection. This helical section of spring 46 surrounds a cylindricalshoulder 27 on control element 40. Between them, the two sidepieces 48,49 of spring 46 hold both a finger 26 of control element 40 and a finger21 permanently attached to the housing. As a result, cylinder core 33 isheld with its key channel 28 in a certain neutral position 70, which isindicated in FIG. 3 by a vertical line. By inserting a properly fittingkey 34 into a key channel 28 in cylinder core 33, the core can be turnedas desired into any one of the working positions 72, 73, 74 shown inFIG. 3, which will be described in greater detail below.

Finger 21 permanently attached to the housing belongs to an additionalhousing part 20, which is permanently connected to cylinder housing 32.The design of this part can be seen in FIG. 6. Housing part 20 has asupport point 22 for the rotating bolt of a working element 18, which isconnected mechanically by way of a tie rod 17 or the like to a lockingmechanism 19, indicated in FIG. 7, although in the normal case it can beactuated electrically. In the present exemplary embodiment, thesemechanical components 17, 18 are intended to be active only in anemergency.

A lock washer 47, which engages in a ring-shaped groove in the insideend of cylinder core 33, holds components 33, 38, 39, 40, 46 togetherand ensures that pulse-compression spring 46 presses a connecting socket45, visible in FIG. 1, in control element 40 in the direction of forcearrow 43 onto a connecting projection 35 on cylinder core 33 and thusnormally keeps these two parts engaged. In the present case, twoconnecting projections 35 and two connecting sockets 45 are provided atdiametrically opposing points on components 33 and 40. These connectingparts 35, 45 serve to transmit key rotations 75, 75', 76, 76' ofcylinder core 33 shown in FIG. 3 to control element 40.

In the concrete exemplary embodiment, these connecting parts 35, 45 alsohave an additional function; that is, they have a special profile, whichgives them the ability to control the lift of control element 40, whichwill be explained in greater detail on the basis of FIGS. 8c-10c. FIGS.8a-13b show the relationships of a second embodiment, modified withrespect to this one. In FIGS. 8a-13b, connecting parts 35, 45 have asimple, rectangular profile. The previously mentioned lift control isrealized in these figures by a stationary control surface 51 on housing31 and a lifting surface 41 on control element 40, shown here in a2-dimensional developed view. This will be discussed in detail furtherbelow.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, three microswitches 50, 50',50" are integrated into housing part 20 and thus positioned with respectto control element 40 in a defined manner. In the simplified schematicdiagrams of FIGS. 8a-13b, and also in the previously cited alternativeof FIGS. 8c-10c, these microswitches 50, 50', 50" have been drawnschematically in lock housing 31. There, the associated switchingelements 55, 55', 55" for each of these microswitches 50-50" are alsodrawn individually. In the concrete exemplary embodiment, two of thesemicroswitches, namely, the first 50 and the second 50', are combinedinto a combination switch 53, which is actuated by a comment actuatingelement 54. This actuating element 54 can be pivoted in the direction ofdouble arrow 56 of FIG. 6. When it pivots in one direction, it actuatesfirst microswitch 50, and when it pivots in the opposite direction, itactuates the other switch 50'.

Control element 40 serves to actuate all three switches 50-50". In theschematic diagrams of FIGS. 8a-13b, a switching cam 42 is provided oncontrol element 40; this cam can be moved into various positions42'-42"', which will be explained later. In the concrete exemplaryembodiment, two switching flanks 61, 62, shown in FIG. 5, which fulfillthe same function as a switching cam, are provided to produce pivotingmotion 56, described above, of common actuating element 54 ofcombination switch 53. Switching element 55" of the third microswitch50" works directly with control element 40, namely, with axial endsurface 60 of a flange-like part. This effective switching action of endsurface 60 of the control element applies both to the concrete exemplaryembodiment of FIGS. 1-6 and to the schematically simplified diagrams ofFIGS. 8a-13b. The effective zone for the actuation of switching element55 is a certain zone 63, namely, here, the radially inner zone ofcontrol element 40. In the concrete exemplary embodiment, switchingflanks 61, 62 on control element 40, which function as switching cams,are, as FIG. 5 shows, formed on a segment-like shoulder 44 of theflange-like part of control element 40, that is, in a zone offset withrespect to the previously mentioned radial zone 63, namely, at a greaterradial distance outward from axis 30.

FIG. 7 shows an electrical circuit diagram of the lock according to theinvention; only a plan view of cylinder core 33 and locking mechanism 19are shown in schematic fashion. As can be seen, the three microswitches50-50" are connected in series in an electrical circuit 90, which is fedfrom a power source 97, such as a car battery. The two microswitches 50,50', which are joined together to form combination switch 53, indicatedin broken line, act, as a function of the actuation of their switchingelements 55, 55', alternately on a complex electronic switching unit 91,by means of which various functions in the motor vehicle such as ananti-theft warning system can be controlled. In the present case, theelectronic part of the previously mentioned CL device, from which alarge number of CL servo components 92 can be actuated, is alsointegrated into this electronic switching unit 91. Although only one CLservo component 92 is shown in FIG. 7, other, similar CL servocomponents 92, all of which are connected to electronic switch unit 91,are provided on all the doors of the motor vehicle and act by way of,for example, extendable and retractable bars 93 on the respective locksprovided on these other doors. These other locks are controlled by CLservo components 92 of the CL device in a manner similar to that inwhich the lock according to the invention is controlled. The lockaccording to the invention, of which, as stated, only cylinder core 33is shown in FIG. 7, is located in the tailgate of the motor vehicle.

Thus handle 10 shown in FIG. 15 is also located in the tailgate of themotor vehicle. When handle 10 is actuated, the contacts of a switch 94are closed. This switch is also integrated into electrical circuit 90 ofFIG. 7 and acts on an electrical drive 95 of the associated tailgatelocking mechanism. Depending on whether the contacts of switch 94 areopen or closed, drive 95 moves a working element 96, which actsmechanically on locking mechanism 19, in one direction or the other. Inthis way, locking mechanism 19 is opened electrically.

But if the electronic control breaks down because, for example, powersource 97 which operates circuit 90 has failed, it is also possible inan emergency for this locking mechanism 19 to be operated mechanically.For this purpose, as already mentioned, pivoting working element 18,shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, is used, which is connected in an articulatedmanner to tie rod 17, also indicated in broken line in FIG. 7. Thismechanical movement of the locking mechanism is brought about by therotation of control element 40, which acts by way of a lifting cam 98provided on it, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 2. As a result of the rotationof cylinder core 33 in direction 76' to an end position 78 illustratedthere, lifting cam 98 comes up against the lower edge of working element18, which then executes the working movement illustrated by pivot arrow14 in FIG. 2. On the flange part of the control element, there is also astop 99, which, in certain working positions of control element 40,prevents manipulations from bringing about a pivoting motion 14 ofworking element 18, which will be explained in greater detail below.

The way in which the lock according to the invention works will now beexplained in greater detail on the basis of the schematic diagrams ofFIGS. 8a-13b. Here, as already mentioned, rotatable control element 40is shown schematically as a slide which can be moved longitudinally inthe plane of the drawing.

Previously described pulse-compression spring 46 exerts the previouslymentioned axial force, illustrated by arrow 43 in FIG. 5, on controlelement 40 in the direction designed to keep previously mentionedconnection 35, 45, located between control element 40 and cylinder core33, engaged. When the control element is rotated into rotationalposition 40' of FIG. 8b, illustrated here as a longitudinaldisplacement, this force 43 pushes a lifting surface 41 on controlelement 40 against control surface 51 of housing 31. Pulse-compressionspring 46, however, as already mentioned, is also a torsion spring,which holds control element 40 with its actuating cam 42 in a defined,normal position according to FIG. 3. This normal position is also drawnin solid line in the diagram of FIG. 8b, to be described in greaterdetail further below. As already mentioned, spring sidepieces 48, 49 ofpulse-compression spring 46 ensure that this normal position ismaintained. FIG. 8a shows a front view of cylinder core 33 in itsneutral position, which is illustrated by an auxiliary line 70,determined by the position of key channel 28. The position of controlelement 40 in this neutral position 70 has been drawn in solid line inthe diagram of FIG. 8b and is called the "normal" position in thefollowing. In this normal position, actuating cam 42, provided oncontrol element 40, is in a neutral position between the twomicroswitches 50, 50'.

FIG. 8a shows two working positions 71, 72, of cylinder core 33, one oneither side of neutral position 70. These two working positions can bereached by rotating the key inserted into cylinder channel 28 out ofneutral position 70 and in the directions indicated by opposing rotationarrows 75, 75'. In the case of a rotation 75 of cylinder core 33 tofirst working position 71 in FIG. 8a, control element 40 is carriedalong also by virtue of connection 35, 45, which is engaged. The controlelement thus leaves normal position 40, drawn in solid line in FIG. 8b,and arrives in first working position 40', shown in broken line. As aresult, actuating cam 42 is also moved out of its normal position andinto first working position 42', also shown in broken line, and thusactuates switching element 55 of first microswitch 50, which then turnson the previously mentioned anti-theft warning system connected to thecircuit and reverses the settings of CL elements 92 by way of CL device91. In working position 42', therefore, switch 55 is closed, as shown inthe previously described circuit diagram of FIG. 7.

Not only now but even before this, third microswitch 50" is also in acontinuously closed position, because, as already mentioned, end surface60 of control element 40 depresses switching element 55". By the closingof switch 50, a voltage pulse is sent via circuit 90 to electronicswitching unit 91. In accordance with the control program providedthere, the electrical connection to drive 95 of the associated lockingmechanism is turned off in this case. This means that closing previouslymentioned switch 94 belonging to handle 10 has no effect. The actuationof handle 10 of FIG. 15 therefore does nothing; the associated lockingmechanism 19 cannot be released. The associated working position 71 ofcylinder core 33 of FIG. 8a thus turns out to be the "secured position"of cylinder core 33.

If the key is now let go after reaching secured position 71,pulse-compression spring 46 first guides the control element out offirst working position 40' back into normal position 40, shown in solidline in FIG. 8b. Because connection 45, 35 remains engaged as before,cylinder core 33 is also guided indirectly, i.e., by way of controlelement 40, back into the normal position shown in solid line in FIG.8b.

This situation does not change until cylinder core 33 is moved by thekey, as shown in FIG. 8a, in direction of opposing arrow 75' relative toneutral position 70 into a second working position 72. Because ofconnection 35, 45, which is still engaged in this case, the controlelement is moved out of its neutral position 70 of FIG. 8b into secondworking position 40", shown here in dotted line. On transition into thissecond working position 72, the control element with its actuating camarrives in the second working position designated 42" in FIG. 8b. As aresult, switching element 55' of second microswitch 50' is actuated.When, in the circuit diagram of FIG. 7, switch 50' closes, a voltagepulse is sent to the second input of electronic switching unit 91,because third microswitch 50" remains closed in this case also. As aresult, an anti-theft warning system can be turned off again, and the CLdevice is reversed. At the output of electronic switching unit 91, anactuating pulse is generated, which initially reverses the various CLactuators 92. In addition, a voltage is applied continuously to electricdrive 95 of the locking mechanism. When handle 10 is now actuated andthus the associated switch 94 is closed, working element 96 is moved bydrive 95, and associated locking mechanism 19 in the tailgate of thevehicle is opened. Both the tailgate and all the doors can now be openedby the actuation of the handles in question. This working position 72therefore turns out to be the "unsecured" position of the lock mentionedat the beginning. If, after rotation 75', the key is now released again,pulse-compression spring 46 and the control element work together withconnection 45, 35 to return cylinder core 33 to its neutral position 70again.

FIG. 9a again shows a front view of cylinder core 33, but this time in alimit position, designated 73, a certain distance away from previouslydescribed secured position 71, as indicated by the greater length ofrotational arrow 76. At this rotational limit, control element 40 is ina limit position 40"', as indicated in the diagram, which is drawn in amanner similar to FIG. 9b. The previously mentioned axial control meansbetween lock housing 31 and control element 40 now become active.Lifting surface 41 of the control element has moved up along controlsurface 51 on the housing. This is indicated in FIG. 9b by an axiallifting arrow 77. As a result of this lifting motion 77 of controlelement 40"', connecting projection 35 of cylinder core 33, which,although held permanently in the axial direction, is nevertheless freeto rotate, has become almost completely disengaged itself fromconnection socket 45 of the axially moving control element. When now thekey is used to rotate cylinder core 33 past this limit position 73 ofFIG. 9a into a third working position 74, as shown in the front view ofFIG. 12a, connecting projection 35 and connection socket 45 becomecompletely disengaged from each other as soon as limit position 73 isleft behind. The control element is now free and, as FIG. 10billustrates, it is automatically carried back into its normal position40 by the action of pulse-compression spring 46. Nevertheless, raisedaxial position 77 of the control element remains in effect for thefollowing reason.

As already stated, pulse-compression spring 46 also exerts a compressiveforce, illustrated by force arrow 43, which is also shown in thediagrams of FIGS. 9b and 10b. In FIG. 9b, therefore, the control elementrises against the action of this force 43 in the direction of liftingarrow 77 up as far as limit position 40"'. After disengagement hasoccurred, this force 43 remains in effect even after the control elementof FIG. 10b has returned to normal position 40, but now control element40 is supported axially by the end surface of connecting projection 35on axially immovable cylinder core 33. In FIG. 10b, control element 40is located in a plane 67, which is determined by the height ofconnecting projection 35, this plane being referred to here as the"disconnection plane". It is offset with respect to the precedingconnection plane 69 by axial distance 68. As can be derived from FIG.10b, however, cylinder core 33 remains in this new working position 74,in which the key can be withdrawn. Tumblers 36 move into an additionallocking channel 37 provided there and therefore lock the mechanism inworking position 74. This working position is the "safe secured"position, already mentioned several times before, which is to bereferred to here in brief as the "safe" position. Unusual circumstancesare present here in several respects.

First, associated handle 10 remains inoperative, as previouslymentioned, because first microswitch 50 was actuated beforehand but notmicroswitch 50'. The CL device also remains in its control position. Asa result of the special design of the CL device in the present exemplaryembodiment, the lock is secured in yet another way. In disconnectionplane 67, control element 40 has released switching element 55" of thirdmicroswitch 50". Switch 50" is therefore in its open position accordingto the circuit diagram of FIG. 7. Circuit 90 is therefore interruptedbetween power source 97 and electronic switching unit 91. An actuationof switch 94 by manipulation of handle 10 is therefore completelywithout effect. This is also true in a purely mechanical sense.

As can be seen from FIG. 10b, previously mentioned stop 99 on controlelement 40 has been shifted axially in disconnection plane 67 to such anextent that it now projects into the working path of mechanical workingelement 18. The use of break-in tools to manipulate working element 18therefore has no effect whatever. In contrast, in the axial position ofcontrol element 40 in connection plane 69 shown in FIG. 8b, stop 99 isout of the working path of working element 18. In this case, a key canturn the locking mechanism all the way to lock actuation position 78shown in FIG. 3 as rotation 76'. Therefore, the locking mechanism cannow be opened by means of the key.

Even in limit position 40"' of FIG. 9b, switching cam 42"' is already acertain axial distance 68 away from switching element 55 of microswitch50, for which reason, when the control element is later returned byspring 46 to the "safe" normal position 40 of FIG. 10b, the switchingcam moves in disconnection plane 67. Thus the switching cam arrives inits normal position 42 shown in FIG. 9b at a certain axial distance 68,which is determined by the difference between the height of the twoplanes 67, 69. Although cam 42 moves back across microswitch 50 as itreturns to its "safe" normal position, it does so without actuatingswitching element 55 of microswitch 50. The previous activation of theanti-theft warning system which occurred on transition into securedposition 71 therefore remains in effect, and microswitch 50 is notactuated again.

In analogy to FIGS. 8b, 9b, and 10b, FIGS. 8c, 9c, and 10c showalternative designs pertaining to the previously described lift controlof control element 40 between its two planes 69, 68. In other respects,the same relationships as those in FIGS. 8b, 9b, and 10b are present. Itis sufficient to discuss only the differences; otherwise, thedescription given above applies here as well.

In this alternative, connection parts 35, 45 have a special profile;namely, one flank 25 of connecting projection 35 is designed with aslant, and connecting socket 45 also has a correspondingly slantedinside surface 24. In addition, a stationary stop 23 is provided on lockhousing 31. These profile shapes are also found in the concreteembodiment according to FIGS. 1-6. It is possible to recognize theslanted inside surface 24 of socket 45 in FIG. 1, slanted flank 25 onconnecting projection 35 in FIG. 5, and stop 23 on housing part 20 inFIG. 6.

When the key is used to rotate cylinder core 33, connection 35, 45causes control element 40 to be carried along as well, as indicated inFIG. 8c by motion arrow 57. As this is happening, edge 58 of controlelement 40 comes up against stop 23 on the housing, for which reason nofurther movement 57 of control element 40 is possible. As cylinder core33 continues to rotate, control element 40 slides by its inside surface24 up along slanted flank 35 of the connecting element. In limitposition 40"' of the control element shown in FIG. 9c, the liftingmotion 77 already described in conjunction with FIG. 9b has occurred,and this remains in effect even after cylinder core 33 has been rotatedfurther into "safe" position 74 already described. Then, as FIG. 10cshows, control element 40 is located in disconnection plane 67. Theangle of rotation is defined exactly by the contact between controlelement edge 58 and housing stop 23, this being the angle at whichlifting motion 77 of the control element out of connection plane 69 intothe disconnection plane 67 begins.

FIGS. 11a and 11b present the same relationships as those shown in FIGS.10a and 10b. The only difference is that FIG. 11b also explains the wayin which components 38, 39 work, which have already been explained inconjunction with FIG. 5. FIGS. 11b-14b show a so-called overload safetyon locking cylinder 33. Slide ring 39 is guided by, for example, radialknobs 29, which move along corresponding longitudinal grooves 79 inhousing 31 of the lock; thus the ring is free to move axially but cannotrotate. Channel sleeve 38 is installed so that it cannot move in theaxial direction but free to rotate in lock housing 31. At their twofacing ends, slide ring 39 and channel sleeve 38 have a complementarylift-out profile 81, 82. This consists, as can be seen in FIG. 5, of anapproximately trapezoidal recess 82 in channel sleeve 38 and acomplementary elevation 81 on slide ring 39. It is advisable to providetwo lift-out profiles 81, 82 of this type at diametrically opposingpoints. As an additional component of this overload safety, acompression spring can be provided, but in the present case axial force43 already being produced by pulse-compression spring 46 is used, whichis also shown in FIGS. 11b and 12b. Thus spring 46 fulfills yet another,third, function.

As long as the proper key has not been inserted in key channel 28 ofFIG. 11a, previously mentioned tumblers 36 engage in locking channel 37of channel sleeve 38, as shown in FIG. 11b, and thus ensure arotation-proof connection between cylinder core 33 and channel sleeve38. But when cylinder core 33 is rotated not by the proper key butrather by a break-in tool in the direction of arrow 86, engaged tumblers36 cause channel sleeve 38 to rotate also, and therefore, once a certainlimit load is exceeded, lift-out profile 81, 82 is lifted against theforce of spring 43. This situation is shown in FIG. 12b. Now end surface89 of slide ring 39 opposite lift-out profile 81 supports controlelement 40.

Lift-out profile 81, 82 can produce more lift 65 than that whichcorresponds to previously mentioned lifting motion 77 between connectionplane 68 and disconnection plane 67. As a result of axial lift 65 shownin FIG. 12b, control element 40 arrives in a third axial plane, which isto be referred to here as the "overload safety plane". The safe positionof control element 40 remains therefore ensured even in the event of abreak-in. As FIG. 12a illustrates, cylinder core 33 can be rotated by abreak-in tool in the direction of rotation arrow 86 without interferingwith the uselessness of any attempt to actuate the handle; theassociated locking mechanism remains closed as before.

FIGS. 13b-14b show additional features of the previously describedoverload safety. Channel housing 38 is provided here with an opening 84,through which a synchronization element, designed here as a roller 85,extends. Lock housing 31 has a first recess 87 for one end of roller 85,and the circumferential surface of cylinder core 33 has a second recess88 for the opposite end of roller 85. In safe position 74 of cylindercore 33, shown in FIG. 14a, brute-force rotation 86 by means of abreak-in tool produces the situation shown in FIG. 14b, which is apartial cross section along line XIVb--XIVb in FIG. 13b. If, as alreadystated in conjunction with FIG. 12b, cylinder core 33 is connected byengaging tumblers to channel sleeve 38 in a rotation-proof manner, thenthese parts will rotate together with each other, as rotation arrow 86in FIG. 14b indicates. Roller 85 thus leaves recess 87 in the housingand travels around until it arrives in recess 88 in the core.

FIG. 14a shows the relationships at the same point as that of FIG. 14bwhen the situation explained in conjunction with FIGS. 8b-10b ispresent; here cylinder core 33 is being rotated by a properly fittingkey. In this case, tumblers 36, already described several times inconjunction with FIG. 11b, are "sorted" into their assigned positionsaround the circumference of cylinder core 33. Channel sleeve 38 cannotrotate, because it is held by roller 85. The roller now escapes intohousing recess 87 but still extends to a sufficient extent into opening84 to prevent channel sleeve 38 from rotating in lock housing 31. Roller85 releases the other recess 88 in FIG. 14a and therefore allowspreviously described rotation 76 of cylinder core 33 with respect to itschannel sleeve 38.

As indicated in FIG. 15, handle 10 consists of a spring-loaded grip flap13, which is recessed into a grip trough 12 of a handle housing 11. Thishandle housing 11 is integrated into a tailgate 100, in which lockhousing 31 is also located. Grip flap 13 is supported by a pivot axis 15in handle housing 11 so that it is free to pivot. When pressure isexerted by a hand 59 in the direction of arrow 64, the flap can thuspivot in the direction of arrow 16 into position 13' indicated in dottedline.

As FIGS. 16 and 17 show, grip flap 13 is provided with lateral pin 80,which projects out of housing 11. On the external surface of housing 11,a switch 94 is installed; pin 80 cooperates with switching element 83 ofthis switch. The switching movements explained in conjunction with thecircuit diagram of FIG. 7 thus take place, and these lead to theconsequences described previously. Grip flap 13 and the inside surfaceof housing 11 are lined with a rubber skin 101, which guarantees awater-tight installation of entire handle 10 in trough 12 of tailgate100.

Grip flap 13 is held by a latching device 102, 103 in its initialposition shown in solid line in FIG. 15. This latching device 102, 103,however, also fulfills another, different function, which is made clearon the basis of FIG. 18. The latching device comprises, first, anelastic latching element 102, which here consists of a spring-loadedball 104. This ball 104 is acted upon by a compression spring 105, whichis integrated along with ball 104 into a cup-shaped housing 106. As canbe seen especially clearly in FIG. 17, the entire assembly 104, 105, 106is recessed into a lateral edge 107 of grip flap 13, as a result ofwhich spring-loaded ball 104 faces the side wall of handle housing 11. Alateral step 108 is located there. The previously mentioned unlatchposition 13' of the grip flap, shown in dotted line, is also illustratedin FIG. 18, and an arrow 14 of the pivoting motion is also indicated.Lateral step 108 serves as a counter-latching element 103 for previouslymentioned elastic latching element 102.

It is important to note that this counter-latching element 103 has aslanted surface, which extends at an angle to pivoting motion 14. Thisslant is drawn in dotted line in FIG. 18, is designated 112, and will bereferred to in the following as the "slanted surface". This slantensures that, when elastic element 102 is in starting position 13 of thegrip flap, it is under less load than when it is in actuation position13'. Because latching element 102 is always trying to achieve maximumrelease, it will try to travel as far as possible down along slantedsurface 112. Maximum load release is achieved as soon as spring-loadedball 104 has emerged completely from latch housing 106 at step edge 109.Thus, elastic latching element 102 ensures that the grip flap is held inits starting position 13 of FIG. 18. This is what accounts for thelatching action.

When the grip flap is moved into its actuating position 13', the ball ispressed into recessed position 104', shown in dotted line in FIG. 18.The compression spring is pushed into compressed position 105' of FIG.18. Thus, a force is produced which acts on pivoted grip flap 13' in thedirection of arrow 110 of FIG. 18. This force produces a force component111 on slanted surface 112 of handle housing 11; this force componentacts in the direction opposite that in which the grip flap has beenpivoted, thus exerting a restoring moment on pivoted-in grip flap 13'.This restoring moment therefore tries to move the grip flap into itsstarting position 13 of FIG. 18. Latching device 102, 103 designed inaccordance with the invention is therefore simultaneously a restoringmeans for grip flap 13.

This double function of latching device 103, 104 makes possible aspace-saving design and also reduces the number of components required.In addition, the combination of restoring means and latching elementmakes it possible to produce a snapping sound when grip flap is actuated14 between positions 13 and 13'. This sound gives the user an audiblesignal that he/she has successfully actuated switch 94. This doublefunction has its own inventive significance, independently of the lockof FIGS. 1-14b.

What is claimed is:
 1. Lock for doors, hoods, tailgates (100), or thelike, especially of vehicles such as motor vehicles,with a lockcylinder, the cylinder core (33) of which can be rotated by a properlyfitting key (34) out of a neutral position (70), determined by a pulsespring (46), into three different working positions (71, 72, 74),namely, an unsecured position (72), a secured position (71), and asafe-secured position (74); with a handle (10), which, when actuatedwhile the lock is in the unsecured position (72), opens a lockingmechanism connected (17, 18) to it, but which cannot actuate the lockingmechanism when the lock is in the secured position (71) or in the safeposition (74); with at least one microswitch (50, 50'), which, whenactuated, controls mechanical or electrical components; and with aswitch actuator (42), which is carried along by the cylinder core (33)when the core is rotated (75, 75', 76) by the key, and which, when thecylinder core (33) passes between the neutral position (70) and one ofthe working positions (71, 72), actuates the microswitch (50); whereinthe switch actuator (42) is seated on a control element (40), which,upon rotation (75, 75', 76) of the cylinder core (33) over differentangular ranges by the key, is shifted by control surfaces (41, 51; 24,25; 81, 82) optionally into one of at least two planes (69, 67, 66)separated by an axial gap (68), namely, into at least a connection plane(69) and a disconnection plane (67); in each of which planes the controlelement (40) can be moved between a normal position (40) correspondingto the neutral position (70) of the cylinder core (33) and one or moreworking positions (40', 40") corresponding to the working positions (71,72, 74) of the cylinder core (33); where the control element, when inthe connection plane (69), is connected nonrotatably to the cylindercore (33), and where its switch actuator (42) can contact and actuatethe microswitch (50, 50') at small degrees of rotation (75, 75') of thekey; whereas, at large degrees of rotation (76), the control element(40) arrives by means of the axial control surfaces (41, 51; 24, 25) inthe disconnection plane (67), in which the control element (40) isdisengaged from the cylinder core (33), and where its switch actuator(42) now moves past the microswitch (50) on a level a certain distance(68) away, thus leaving the switch unactuated; and in that the pulsespring (46) is always connected to the control element (40) and alwaystries, in all planes (69, 67) and in all working positions (40', 40"),to move the control element into its normal position (40).
 2. Lockaccording to claim 1, wherein two microswitches (50, 50') are provided;and in that, while the control element is in the connection plane (69),its switch actuator (42) actuates:one microswitch (50) as the controlelement moves from its normal position (40) into the first workingposition (40'), corresponding to the secured position (71) of thecylinder core (33); and the other microswitch (50') as the controlelement moves from its normal position (40) into the second workingposition (40"), corresponding to the unsecured position (72) of thecylinder core (33).
 3. Lock according to claim 1, wherein a thirdmicroswitch (50") is provided, which is actuated directly or indirectlyby the control element (40) as it moves in the axial direction.
 4. Lockaccording to claim 3, wherein the third microswitch (50") is connectedto the electrical circuit (90) of first and second microswitches (50,50') and interrupts this circuit (90) when the control element (40)moves out from the connection plane (69) into the disconnection plane(67), but closes the circuit again during the return movement.
 5. Lockaccording to claim 1, wherein, when the cylinder core (33) is rotated(75, 75') by the key, a central locking device (91) is also actuated,which acts on additional locks and locking mechanisms in the samevehicle, namely,upon rotation (76) of the cylinder core (33) out of theneutral position (70) into the secured position (71) or into thesafe-secured position (74), the additional locks are also reset in sucha way as to secure them; but upon rotation (75') into the unsecuredposition (72), the other locks are moved in such a way as to releasethem.
 6. Lock according to claim 1, wherein, as a result of a rotationof the cylinder core (33) beyond the secured position (71) into thesafe-secured position (74), the control element (40) is moved byadditional control surfaces (81, 82) out of the disconnection plane (67)into at least one additional, third plane, namely, an overload safetyplane (66)where possibly additional functions can be rendered operativeor inoperative by mechanical or electrical elements.
 7. Lock accordingto claim 1, wherein, when the control element (40) is displaced in theaxial direction, only part of it leaves the connection plane (69) ordisconnection plane (67) and enters the additional plane (66) or planes.8. Lock according to claim 6, wherein the control surfaces (81, 82) forthe axial displacement of the control element (40) or of a part thereofcomprises a lift-out profile of an overload safety, which is locatedbetween additional elements (38, 39) of the lock.
 9. Lock according toclaim 8, wherein one of the elements of the overload safety comprises ofa channel sleeve (38) surrounding the cylinder core (33), which sleevehas at least one locking channel (37) to allow the entry of the ends ofthe tumblers (36) provided in the cylinder core (33);where the channelsleeve (38) is installed in the housing (31, 32) of the lock cylinder insuch a way that it cannot move in the axial direction but is free torotate (86) and in that a slide ring (39), which also surrounds thecylinder core (33) and which is pressed by an axial elastic force (43)against the channel sleeve (38), is supported with freedom of axialmovement but without freedom to rotate in the housing (31, 32), adjacentto the channel sleeve (38); where, between the channel sleeve (38) andthe slide ring (39), a lift-out profile (81, 82) is located, the profileheight of which in the axial direction is greater than the distance (68)between the connection and disconnection planes (69, 67); and in thatthe two elements (38, 39) are connected to each other nonrotatably up toa certain load limit, but that they separate themselves from each other,against the force of the spring, under overload conditions.
 10. Lockaccording to claim 9, wherein in that the elastic load acting on theslide ring (39) is produced by the pulse spring (46), which is alsodesigned as a compression spring, which serves to move the cylinder core(33) back into its neutral position (70).
 11. Lock according to claim 4,wherein the control surfaces for the axial displacement of the controlelement (40) between the connection plane (69) and the disconnectionplane (67) comprises slanted profiles (24, 25) of the two connectionparts (35, 45) located between the cylinder core (33) and the controlelement (40).
 12. Lock according to claim 11, wherein, for the axialdisplacement, the connection parts (45, 35) located between the controlelement (40) and the cylinder core (33) have control surfaces (24, 25)which slant toward the safe-secured position (74), and in that thecontrol element (40) has a shoulder (58),which, upon key-actuatedrotation (57) of the control element (40), contacts a stationary stop(23) in the transition region between the secured position (71) and thesafe-secured position (74) of the cylinder core (33) and stops thefurther rotation (40"') of the control element.
 13. Lock according toclaim 1, wherein first and second microswitches (50, 50') are joined toform a combination switch (53) with a common actuating element (54), andin that, depending on the direction in which the control element (40) isrotated (75, 75') by the key, the actuating element (54) actuates eitherthe contact element belonging to the first microswitch (50) or thecontact element belonging to the second microswitch (50') of thecombination switch (53).
 14. Lock according to claim 1, wherein anactuating element (55") of a third microswitch (50") holds the contactelements there in a continuous "on" position while the control element(40) is in its connection plane (69) but keeps them in the "off"position when the control element (40) is in its disconnection plane(67) or its overload safety plane (66).
 15. Lock according to claim 13,wherein radial or axial zones (63, 44) or control profiles (61, 62) ofthe control element (40) which actuate first and second microswitches(50, 50') or the combination switch (53) are different from the zones orprofiles which actuate a third microswitch (50").
 16. Lock according toclaim 1, wherein a working element (18), which acts on the associatedlocking mechanism upon actuation (76') of the key, is supported (22) onthe housing (20);in that the control element carries a stop (99), whicharrives in the path of the working element (18) when the control element(40) is in its disconnection plane (67) or its overload safety plane(66), as a result of which manipulations of the working element (18) areprevented from actuating the locking mechanism; and in that the stop(99) is moved out of the path of the working element (18), thus allowingactuation of the locking mechanism, when the control element (40) is inits connection plane (69).
 17. Lock according to claim 1, wherein thehandle (10) is provided with an electrical switch (94), which, uponactuation (16) of the handle (10) while the cylinder core (33) is in theunsecured position (72), renders operative an electrical drive (95) forthe associated locking mechanism.
 18. Lock according to claim 17,wherein the handle (10) comprises a spring-loaded grip flap (13), thegrip flap (13) being designed to keep the contact parts of theassociated electrical switch (94) open while in its starting position(13), maintained by spring loading, but to keep the contacts closed whenin its actuation position (13').
 19. Lock according to claim 18, whereinan elastic latching element (102), which cooperates with a rigidcounter-latching element (103) to hold the grip flap (13) in itsstarting position (13) in a elastically latching manner, also produces arestoring force (111) on the grip flap (13), which force moves the gripflap out of its actuation position (13') and back to its startingposition (13) after releasing the hold on the actuated grip flap (13').20. Lock according to claim 19, wherein the counter-latching element(103) comprises a slanted surface (112), against which the elasticlatching element (102) presses, and the slanted surface (112) slants inthe direction of the desired starting position (13) of the grip flap,whereas the latching element (102), upon actuation (16) of the gripflap, moves along on the slanted surface (112) under elastic deformation(105') of its elastic part (105).
 21. Lock according to claim 19,wherein the elastic latching element (102) comprises a spring-loaded(105) ball (104), which is integrated into the grip flap (13) or intothe housing (11) of the grip flap (13).